Electromechanical selecting mechanism for telephones.



W. C. RlCHARDSON.

ELECTROMECHANICAL SELECHNG MECHANISM FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1912.

1,167,522, Patented Jan. 11, 1916 3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH (IO-,WASHINGTON. D. c.

W. C. RICHARDSON. ELECTROMECHANICAL SELECTING MECHANISM.FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 26,19l2.

1,16'?,52Q, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I/MT/VESSES I I //vl E/v7'0/? 41% QQMM gm/fiMM/M m. M Z

COLUMBIA PLANCIGRAPH C0..WASHINOTON, D, c.

W-. C. RICHARDSON. ELECTROMECHAMCAL SELECTING MECHANISM FOR TELEPHDNES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26. 1912.

1, 16?,522, Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,WAsmNGToN. D c.

} mechanism for cutting in nnirnn s'rns PATENT @FFTQFZ.

ELECTROMEOHANIGAL SELECTING MEGHANISIVI FOB TELEFHONES.

Application filed July 26, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM CUMsToN RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Boston, county of Suffolk,C01nmonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Electromechanical Selecting Mechanism for Telephones, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying the same and forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to electro-n'iechanical selective mechanism for the selection and operation of one or more signaling devices and to select and cut into the telephone circuit one or more telephones in a party line circuit.

The objects of my invention are to provide electrically operated mechanical devices for selecting, signaling or cutting into a party line circuit one or more telephones to the exclusion of all others located on the line.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part therecfFigure 1 is a side elevation of my electro-mechanical selective device; Fig. Bis an end ele vation of same; Fig. 3 is a plan of same; Fig. at is a view of the shaft carrying the and cutting out the signaling and telephoning circuit; Fig. is a side elevation of the switch carrying shaft having the switches for cutting in and out the signaling device and telephone in the circuit, mounted thereon; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of same showing the switches in the position they would occupy at one of the stations when in their normal or rest positions; Figs. 7 and 8 represent another station where the switches are in a synchronized or rest position; Figs. 9 and 10 show a third station in normal or rest position; Figs. 11 and 12 show a fourth station in normal position; Figs. 13 and let show a fifth station in normal position, it being understood that the ratchets, cams and wheels secured to the shaft are all in the same positions as shown in the ten views, the only difference being in the radiating arm and the triangular shaped cam; and Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic View of a wiring plan which diagrammatically illustrates the positions of the different electromechanical devices and a method by which they may be connected to the main line wires. Fig. 16 represents a slde view ofarotatable Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 12916. Serial No. 711,726.

switch disk having rubber insulation and metallic switch pieces secured upon each side of the rubber insulation as contact pieces; Fig. 17 represents an edge view of said switch disk; Fig. 18 represents a View of the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 16; and Fig. 19 represents an edge view of the opposite side of the view shown in Fig. 17; Fig. 20 represents a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and is added for the purpose of more clearly showing the mechanism.

In the drawings illustrating the electrically operated mechanical devices forming a part of my invention, 1 represents a base for the mechanism upon which the various magnets and operating devices are mounted. Secured to the base is a magnet 2 designed to be operated by an alternating current. This magnet is'provided with an armature 3 having the hook portion 4: formed on its end, the purpose of which will be hereafter described. A magnet 5 designed to operate on an alternating current is mounted upon the base 1, as shown in Fig. 1, and is provided with the armature 6 lying in a horizontal plane. Upon the end of the armature 6 there is mounted the hook 7 arranged so that its hook portion will contact with the teeth upon the ratchet wheel 8, which ratchet wheel is mounted upon the shaft 9. The shaft 9 is journaled in the bearings 10 and 11 near its ends.

12 represents a magnet operable by a direct current which is provided with an armature 13 arranged in a horizontal plane. The armature 13 is attached to the lever 14-, the lever 1% being secured by the pivot 15 to the supporting-frame of the magnet 12, its other end extending out over the shaft 9 and has secured to it the depending portion l4? partially rotating the shaft 9 into its normal or synchronized position. The operation of these devices will be explained more fully hereafter.

The lever 14 has pivoted to and depending therefrom a hook member 16 arranged to hook under the switch-lever 17. The switchlever 17 is pivoted at 18 to an upwardly extending post 19, one end extending out to the hook-lever 16, the other end extending backwardly so that its end will contact with the hook portion a. Secured near its right hand end is an insulated block 20 having contact-pieces 21 and 22 secured to it. The

switch-piece .Zl -isarranged to make a conmotion between the wiring terminals 23 and the switch-piece 22 between the wiring terminals 24 in such way as to provide an electrical circuit through either of said terminals 23 and 24 as desired.

There is mounted upon the shaft 9 an insulated block 25 having circular conducting pieces 26 and 27 secured thereto at op.- posite sides. To these conductors there are secured the wires 28 and 29, the free ends of which are secured to switch terminals 30, and 31, these. switch terminals being so arranged that a pivoted metal conducting lever 32 can be forced between them and thereby e ectrically connect them. The conductor lever 32 is pivoted to the block 33 near one end and is limited in its rotative movement by a springpiece 34 which is secured to the block 33, its free end contacting with the end of the conducting lever There is also secured to the shaft 9 near one of its ends what might be termed a synchronizing print 35, the point of which is secured to the shaft so as to rotate therewith.

As before described, the circular conduc tors 26 and 27 are connected respectively with the switch pieces 30 and 31 by the wires 28 and 29 so that when the lever 32 is pressed downwardly between the outer ends of the switch pieces 30 and 31 a circuit would be made through it from one to the other, so that when a current is flowing in through the terminals 60, and 61, which have a rubbing contact upon the circular contact pieces 26 and 27, it would pass through the connecting wires to the switch pieces'30 and 31, thus completing the one cuit. As the shaft 9 is rotated, the solid metal contact piece 64: is brought between the terminals 60.-61, thus directly connecting them without the current passing through the wires 28, 2 9 and the switchpieces 30, 31 and lever .32. Terminals 60 and 61 are longer than the terminals 62, 63, so that they reach in close to the insulated portion of wheel 25, and so that when the said terminals 60- 61 reach the pro: jecting part of the insulating portion they will rub on the insulation and open the circuit, even though the lever 32 was pressed downwardly to connect the switch pieces 30 and 31. This circuit is used merely for ringing the bell 18 for signaling pur poses. The terminals 30 and 31 are secured to an insulated block which is mounted upon the shaft 9 to rotate therewith.

The lever 17 is normally held down at the right hand end, as appears in Fig. 1, by a hook 1. A spring 36 is secured to the base 1 and the other end to the lever 17 so that when the armature 3 of the magnet 2 is drawn to the pole-piece of the magnet a d the h k L is p l ed a ay from th gh h nd end. of he le e 1 7, th sprin Sfi' ill draw the lettllenc or" lever.

downwardly and throw the switch-piece 21 into contact with the terminals 23. The lever 17 is drawn upwardly against the tension of the spring 36 by the upward movement of the lever 14 and the hook lever 16,

the hook portion 16 of which engages underneath the lever 17 to pull it upwardly. The book 16 is disengaged from contact with the lever 17 by the cam portion 16 formed on the lever 16 coming in contact with the projection 14 secured to the frame 11. When the left hand end of the lever 17 is pulled upwardly by the hook 16 and lever 16 the switch-piece 22 contacts between the terminals 24: and makes an electric circuit through the switch 22 from one terminal to the other.

Referring tothe d agrammatic view 15 and the various magnets and the mechanism of my device, as well as the main line circuits, L, L represent the main line wires of a party line circuit. The diagrammatic view is intended to illustrate one of the telephone stations on a party line, its electrically operated devices being connected into the local lines which form a bridge between the main line wires L. and L.

Assuming that the telephone circuit is not in use, in which case the switch 22 connects the terminals 2st so that a current sent through the line L and L would pass through, the circuit through the telephone would be complete and all the stations in their normal or synchronized position and the lines and bridges in such condition that each of the subscribers on the line could call up the central station and talk with the operator-z or in other words the telephones would all be in circuit and all subscribers could call the central office and talk with the central operator. To select one or more of the stations on the line to the exclusion of the other stations, the first act of the telephone operator at the central station would be to send an alternating current through the line. This alternating current would come in, say on line L or L, pass from say line 33to line 39, thence through line e10, through the condenser C to line 37 and main line L. This would operate the magnet 2, cause the hook i to be disengaged from the right hand end of the lever 17 so that the spring 36 would pull the left hand end of the lever downi-vardly and throw the switch 21 to bridge the gap between the contacts 23, and at the same time break the connection between the contaets 24-. Then if an alternating current were sent through the line it would proceed along line ll to line 42 to line 4L0 through the condenser (3, line 37 to main line wire L, thereby operating the magnet 5. causing its armature to draw down upon the hoolr nember 7 and rotate the shaft 9 a distance equal to one tooth of the ratchet numb r of impulses ent through;

magnet 5 would correspond to the station which it was desired to select. To complete the selection it would be necessary to rotate the shaft until one of the levers 32 which corresponded to the station it is desired to select was brought to a position practically above the shaft 9, or to the position shown in Fig. 2, and thereafter a direct current would be sent through the lines L and L, and would pass from line 38, line 41, line 43, impedance coil R, line 37 and main line wire L, operating the magnet 12 and causing the end of its armaturelever 14 to press upon the lever 32- and press it downwardly between the contact points 30 and 31 and thus connect the circuit between them so that a current would pass through lines 28 and 29 connecting the switch-conductors 26 and 27. The switch-conductors 26 and 27 are in electrical contact with the terminals of the wires let and through lines 41, 43, etc., the armature lever 1 1 will be thrown upwardly by means of the spring 16, the hook 16 would catch under the lever 17, draw it upwardly so that the hook 4 could catch on the right hand end of said lever 17 and holdthe right hand end downwardly in the position shown in Fig.1. This would close the circuit through the terminals 24- so that if a current was thereafter sent through the main line wires it could pass through line 38, 39, through the terminals 24, line 45 to say the conductor 27, thence through the wires 28 and 29, switchconductors 26, 27, thence through wires 44 through the telephone T, wire 44, wire 37 to the line wire L, thus completing the circuit through the telephone. The current thus sent through the telephone T would be a current such as is usually used in telephoning. lVhen the magnets 12 are operated to close the circuit through terminals 30 and 31, a current at the selected stations could at the same time pass through the wires 47, signal 48, wire 47 to wire 43, thence through the impedance coil R, wire 37 and to the main line L, causing a signal to be given at the station being called. When the armature lever 14: is returned to its normal position by spring 46 it would pull the left hand end of the lever 17 upwardly and break the circuit at 23 and close the circuit. at 2 1.

It will be noted that alternating currents sent over the line operating the magnet 5 to rotate the shaft 9 and with it the arms 32, which arms 32 serve when pressed down between the terminals 30 and 31, to cut in a telephone located at the station where the arm 32 might be operated. Therefore, to select and permit conversation between two stations on a single line, for instance stations 1 and 5, an alternating current would be sent through the line to rotate the shafts 9 to bring the arm 32 of station 1 under the armature 14L of the magnets 12. Thereafter,

By discontinuing the current &

a direct current would be sent through the line to operate the magnets 12, push down the lever 32 at station 1 'to terminals 30 and 31 through the lever 32. Then, four more alternating impulses would be sent to line, which would operate the magnets 5 four times, rotating the shafts 9 four movements forward until the arm 32 at station 5 was brought under the armature lat of the magnet 12. Thereupon, a direct impulse would be sent to line to operate magnets 12, push down the lever-32 at station 5, connecting the terminals 30 and 31 at station 5. Thus we have stations 1 and 5 selected and the lines put into condition so that when the telephone bridges were put into circuit, communication could be held between station 1 and station 5 on the given selected circuit.

It will be understood that the usual arrangement will be made at the central oflice to cause a signal to be given when a subscriber has completed his conversation and replaced the telephone on the hook. When such signal is received by the central station, the operator will immediately proceed to restore the lineto its normal condition. To restore the line, we will assume that stations 1 and 5 on the line had called central and been connected up so the parties could converse; in this instance, station 1 would have been selected and called, station 5 would have been selected and called and the circuit put in condition by the central operator so that they could converse to the ex clusion of the other stations on the line. lVhen the conversation is completed and the receivers restored to the hooks, the operator should send impulses enough through the lines to synchronize all the machines. The synchronizing is done in the following manner :Assu1ning there were five telephones on the line, it would take five impulses sent through. magnets 5 to select station No. 5, one impulse to select station No. 1. To restore all the stations to their normal posi tions, five impulses would be sent through magnet 5 of an alternating current. The first impulse would release the lever 17, allowing it to move so that it would close the gap between the terminals 23. Thereafter, another alternating current would pass through line 38, 11, 41, 42, magnet 5, 42, 42, line 4:0, condenser C, line 37 to main line L. These five impulses would rotate the shaft 9 until the space 8 on the ratchet 8 would come opposite the hook member 7. Thereafter, it would not matter how many impulses were sent through lines 38, 41-1, 41,

42, 40, condenser C, and 37 to operate the armature lever 52, for as the shaft 9 had rotated to a blank space in the ratchet 8 further movement of the hook 7 would have no effect upon the ratchet to rotate the shaft.

7 This would bring the point directly connect the v III under the downwardly projecting member 14- which is formed upon or secured to the armature lever 14. The point 35 would stand in the same position at all of the stations, as is shown in Figs. 6, .S, 10, 12 and 14: so that by sending a direct current through line 38, l1, 43, 43, .43, impedance coil 1%, line 37 to main line wire L, the magnets 12 would be energized and cause the armature levers 1st to move downward, and cause the projectionsl t at each station to contact with the points 35 and partially rotate the shafts 9 at each station, causing the radiating contacts 30, 31, to rotate with the shaft and carry the conductorflever 32 with it until all said radiating contacting arms and contacting levers were in the posi tions at the various stations as illustrated in Figs. 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, or in their normal calling positions.

Theconducting-pieces 26 and 27 are provided with sliding contacts 60 and 61 which form the terminals of lines 44: and 45. I also provide other sliding contacts as 62 and 63 which form the terminals of lines 4747. The sliding contacts 62 and 63 are so positioned as to bear upon the sides of the conduotorfpiece 64 which is set into the edge of the insulation 25. By arranging the sliding terminals 62 and and conductorpiece 54 as shown in Figs. 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, the circuit al-at4 and is closed when the various selecting and signaling devices are in their rest or normal positions so that each subscriber can call the central station at all times.

When synchronizing, the cam-shafts 9 at the various stations would rotate in the direction of the arrow Fig. 6, The projecting end 58 of the conductor-levers 32 when being rotated would come in contact with the outside of the cams 59, 59, 59, etc, and the conductor-levers 32 would be thrown outwardly and the end 58 thrown from between the terminals 30, 31, thus making a gap in the line 28, 29. The return movement of the armature lever 14; after synchronizing the various shafts 9 would cause its hook 16 to engage underneath the left hand end of the lever l7, raise said left hand end of lever 17 upwardly and throw the switch 22 between the contact-points 24, the downward movement of the right hand end of the lever being sufficient so that the projection 17 would engage underneath the hook 4 and hold said lever- 17 in the position shown in Fig. 1, or its normal position.

The mag-nets 2 and 5 are operated by alternating currents. The magnet 2 is so wound and has so little work to perform that it can be operated on a very slight can rent, the magnet 5 taking a much greater current; so much so that a current sent through the lines that would operate mag;

net 2 -wouldnot operate magnet 5. The par-- signaling circuit so that any one of'the statimes on the party line could be selected and a signal sent through the line. By difiereI-r' tiating between the strength of the currents designed to operate magnets 2 and 5, magnet 2 can be operated to perform its function on a current too weak to operate the signaling device. The telephoning circuit on all the lines is first cut out bya weak alternating current sent through magnet 2, and thereafter the desired station or stations in the line may be selected and signals sent through themwithout the signals being sent through the remaining stations on the party line. Likewise, the telephoning circuits on all stations other than those which were being called would be cut out so that subscribers at stations not selected could not overhear a conversation between the parties on the telephones selected, or could not in terfere with them in any way.

1 do not confine myself to the form of the electro mechanical devices shown and described in the drawings nor to the arrangement of them with relation to each other, or to the method of connecting or wiring the various instruments orbridging them across the party line circuits. W hat I have shown is for the purpose of illustrating my invention and of showing one of the methods by which the invention may be practised.

What I claim islfIn a metallic telephone circuit, a plu rality of telephone stations in said metallic circuit; a plurality of bridges at each station; a telephone on one of said bridges at eachstation'; another bridge at each station having means in circuit for cutting out the telephone bridges and cutting in other bridges located at each station having in circuit selective'and signaling devices; means in said selective and signaling devices for selecting and cutting into circuit the desired telephone or telephones and signaling the stations where telephones are cut in, all said devices being station.

2. In a telephone circuit, a plurality of telephone stations in said circuit; a plurality of bridges at each station; a telephone in one of said bridges; means in another of said bridges for cutting the telephone bridge out of circuit and cutting in a bridge having selective devices in circuit and anotherbridge having a signaling device in circuit; means in the bridge having selective vices or s lec ing he telep on at he station which said bridge is located; and

operable from a central means in said selecting bridge for cutting the bridge of the telephone selected into the circuit.

3. In a metallic telephone circuit, a plurality of telephone stations; a plurality of bridges capable of being cut in or out across said circuit one of which is normally in circuit; a telephone in one of said bridges at each station; another bridge at each station having means in circuit for cutting out the telephone bridge and cutting in a selective and a signaling bridge at each station; means in circuit in the selective bridges for selecting and cutting in any one or more telephone bridges in said metallic telephone circuit; means in each signaling bridge for signaling the station selected.

In a party line telephone system, main line circuits; a signaling circuit and a telephone circuit at each of a plurality of telephone stations; means operated by a current of very Weak amperage for opening the telephone circuit and closing the signaling circuit; and means operated by a current of stronger amperage for selecting and signaling the subscriber, all operable Whether the telephone receivers at one or more stations are on or off the hooks.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, this the 2nd day of July, A. D. 1912.

WILLIAM CUMSTON RICHARDSON. Witnesses:

R. P. ELLIOTT, H. M. Knnso.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

